No charges have been laid, but an IHIT email says more details will be provided at a news conference at 2 p.m. PT. Saturday, May 24.

"You are forever in our hearts." Tributes to Julie Paskall still adorn the Newton arena nearly half a year after her death. (CBC)

Paskall, a 53-year-old mother of three was brutally assaulted in the parking lot of the Newton Arena while waiting to pick up her teenage son, Cailean, who was refereeing a hockey game the night of Dec. 29 last year.

Parents relieved

Parents bringing their children to the Newton Arena Friday afternoon expressed relief.

Dana Wood said she feels a little safer.

Jenn Evans says she's relieved to hear about an arrest, but the additional police presence and work that's been done to clean up the area around the arena is just as important. (CBC)

"Coming here with my son, knowing that something like that could happen to somebody... it's scary. So it's awesome that they've caught him," she said.

Jenn Evans says it's nice to have an arrest, but the increased police presence and work that's been done around the arena since Paskall's murder is just as important.

Everything has been cleaned up," she said. "The trees have been cleaned up. We can see what's going on."

"It's a lot harder for people to lurk around. We come here often with the kids. Just making an arrest is important, but Just being here all the time, cleaning up the neighbourhood [is also important]."